This
is a graduate level course on computer networks and mobile systems. This is a
capstone class which will be programming and network analysis intensive. In
this class, we will teach the design and implementation techniques essential
for engineering both robust networks and mobile systems. There's no textbook,
you need read many research papers (with our guidance) to learn the current
challenges and solutions in networking, wireless and mobile systems. If you
have been exposed to a networking course in your undergrad (i.e. you know the
basics of TCP/IP, socket programming), we highly encourage you to take this
class.

The
goal of this class is to guide students so that they can:

• initiate
and critique research ideas in networks and mobile systems.

• implement
and evaluate a working system that can handle real world workload.

• a
series of labs (40% weightage) + final class project (30% weightage)

• a
midterm or final (20% weightage)

Topics

The
class will cover 3 sets of topics. The first part of the class will focus on
core networking concepts pertaining to the Internet. The second part will cover
concepts in wireless communications and the third part will cover research
topics pertaining to mobile systems. The rough flow of the topics is as
follows:

We
will read about 40-50 research papers on various aspects of networks and mobile
systems. Students are expected to read papers before the class and participate
in the discussion during the class. The lecture will be conducted in an
interactive fashion. We will lead the discussion, but we expect everyone to
participate. You will be graded for class discussion and paper
summaries. Each student will be individually responsible for writing up a
short summary of every paper. The summaries are due before 3 PM on the day
of the corresponding class. Submission instructions will be posted before
class begins.

The
labs in this course will expose the students to the essential topics of
networking. This course will strongly encourage a “learning by doing it yourself”
approach to networking, where the students will implement or measure different
concepts learnt in class. The final course project (conducted in a group of 2
students) should be a research-oriented project which should be a
design/implementation of a new concept in networking or wireless/mobile
systems. Several suggested projects may build on the labs for the class and
will be a natural continuation of a specific lab. Your goal in the labs
and the final projects is to understand how networks work and how to build
systems. Research projects may be presented either in class or as a
poster in a departmental mini-conference in the Spring Showcase.
Suggested project ideas will be provided by the instructor.

Prerequisites:

1.Undergraduate Networks and/or Operating Systems

2.Capstone class requirements

3.Programming experience in C/C++/Java is helpful for the labs and
final project.